Get a work visa to Singapore

Singapore offers several visa options for foreigners looking to relocate to Singapore. The two most common ones for skilled professionals are (i) Employment Pass and (ii) EntrePass. The Employment Pass is the more common option of the two.

We recommend the Employment Pass approach because it lasts longer after initial approval (2 years) and has been easier to renew in our experience, but venture-backed founders with existing traction may find the EntrePass program more suitable for their needs.

Employment Pass (EP)

One option for founders to obtain an EP is to incorporate a private company in Singapore, and use the entity to apply for an EP for yourself. Although this is not explicitly stated, in our experience, each private company can support around 3-4 EP applications before you hit the requirement to have local employees. You should also maintain sufficient bank balance to minimally pay for salary for employees in the firm and show business activities / revenue.

To be eligible for an EP, you must also ensure meet the below requirements:

• Earn at least the qualifying EP salary which differs by age. This is roughly USD 4.5k - USD 7.5k if you are between 25 - 40.

• Pass a point-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) which is a points-based framework that looks at both candidate and company-based attributes to award points. The EP application will need a minimum of 40 points to pass, and is assessed via four key factors: High Salary, Qualifications, Diversity and Local employees.

• If you are drawing a salary of roughly SGD 22,500 (USD 17.5k) or more, you are exempted from the COMPASS framework.

Employment Pass applications are usually processed in three to eight weeks. You may also enlist the services of employment/recruitment agencies to prepare and advise on the application process.

For first-time candidates, the Employment Pass (EP) is granted for a maximum validity of two years. If you're renewing your EP, it can be extended for up to three years. Experienced tech professionals possessing skills in high demand in Singapore may qualify for an extended five-year pass.

EntrePass

If you are a foreign serial entrepreneur or an innovator, you may check your eligibility here and apply directly for the EntrePass scheme.

This would be useful for founders who have venture backed funding, or owns innovative technologies (i.e. IP/patents/research collaborations).

The validity of the EntrePass for new pass holders and first renewal is 1 year, and gets extended to 2 years for subsequent renewals.